FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Archaeopteryx etc Trivia Quiz

A quiz concerning one of the most fascinating fossil discoveries.

A multiple-choice quiz by succubus. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
succubus

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
54,925

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
2842

Awards
Editor's Choice

Last 3 plays: wwwocls (3/10), jackseleven (7/10), Guest 82 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In what year was the first Archaeopteryx fossil, a feather found? Hint

1920

1860

1820

1960

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Where was the feather, and most of the other Archaeopteryx fossils, found? Hint

Madagascar

Berlin

Bavaria

London

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Archaeopteryx is famous for being the first bird. Which of the following would NOT claim to knock it off its perch? Hint

Longisquama

Protoavis

Confuciusornis

Compsognathus

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. How old is Archaeopteryx (approximately)? Hint

200 million years

150 million years

100 million years

50 million years

5. Some dinosaur fossils have been found with a furcula (or wishbone), leading scientists to hypothesise that Archaeopterx evolved from dinosaurs and not alongside them. Which is one dinosaur that provided this evidence? Hint

Oviraptor

Compsognathus

Velociraptor

Pterodactyl

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. What was so extraordinary about the first Archaeopteryx feather? Hint

It was symmetrical

It was small

It was large

It was asymmetrical

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Which of the following is NOT a model for the evolution of flight? Hint

Tertiary Model

Arboreal Model

Arbocursorial Model

Cursorial Model

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Claws are evident on Archaeopteryx's wings. There is another modern bird which shares this characteristic. Which bird? Hint

Kakapo

Hoatzin

Chiffchaff

Megapode

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. A tree-down hypothesis of the evolution of flight suggests that early birds glided down from the trees. Some modern animals have achieved gliding abilities from the trees. Which of the following is NOT a gliding animal? Hint

Gliding Snake

Draco

Jumping Tree Beetle

Parachuting Frog

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Many of the questions about Archaeopteryx could be solved by closer examination of one of the fossil specimens. Why has this not been done? Hint

The feather impressions would be destroyed in the preparation

Exposure to air would destroy the fossil.

None of the owners will allow anyone else to touch their fossil.

Uncertainty surrounding the fossils breeds interest, & the owners want to keep it that way

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Apr 22 2024 : wwwocls: 3/10
Apr 19 2024 : jackseleven: 7/10
Apr 02 2024 : Guest 82: 4/10
Mar 21 2024 : HumblePie7: 3/10
Mar 19 2024 : Guest 188: 5/10
Mar 06 2024 : Guest 138: 2/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what year was the first Archaeopteryx fossil, a feather found?

Answer: 1860

The feather was an enlightening discovery. Not only was it 150 million years old, but it had aerodynamic qualities. The feather pre-dated the earliest birds that were known at the time.

2. Where was the feather, and most of the other Archaeopteryx fossils, found?

Answer: Bavaria

To be precise the feather was found in the Solnhofen region of Bavaria in an ancient, shallow lagoon.

3. Archaeopteryx is famous for being the first bird. Which of the following would NOT claim to knock it off its perch?

Answer: Compsognathus

Longisquama is around 245 million years old, as is Protoavis, both pre-dating Archaeopteryx by about 75 million years. Longisquama has primitive feathers, but is more likely to be an evolutionary step towards flight as opposed to its pioneer. The skeleton of protoavis is fragmentary, and there are no feather remains but its skull is closely related to that of birds. Confuciusornis is about 5 million years younger than Archaeopteryx.

It has many modern bird features that Archaeopteryx lacks.

4. How old is Archaeopteryx (approximately)?

Answer: 150 million years

Archaeopteryx appeared in the Late Jurassic period.

Answer: Velociraptor

The Velociraptor is a theropod and shares a similar skeletal structure as Archaeopteryx. Cladistic analysis supports the theory that birds descended from theropods like Velociraptor

6. What was so extraordinary about the first Archaeopteryx feather?

Answer: It was asymmetrical

The asymmetry of the feather indicated an aerodynamic function. The same pattern is found in modern birds. Flightless birds tend to have symmetric feathers, flying birds tend to have asymmetrical feathers.

7. Which of the following is NOT a model for the evolution of flight?

Answer: Tertiary Model

The arboreal model, or tree-down hypothesis, says that flight evolved with early birds gliding down from trees. The cursorial model, or ground-up hypothesis, says that early birds took off from the ground. The arbocursorial model by Bock is a way to sit on the fence.

8. Claws are evident on Archaeopteryx's wings. There is another modern bird which shares this characteristic. Which bird?

Answer: Hoatzin

Hoatzin chicks have claws on their wings. These are used when danger threatens the nest. The hoatzin chicks hurl themselves out of the nest and use the wing claws to climb back up to the nest when the danger is over. The behaviour of this modern bird gives some insight as to what Archaeopteryx might have used its wing claws for.

Answer: Jumping Tree Beetle

The gliding animals of today have all evolved from the trees. Leading scientists to suggest that Archaeopteryx lived in the trees and 'learned' to fly by gliding either from tree to tree or to the ground.

10. Many of the questions about Archaeopteryx could be solved by closer examination of one of the fossil specimens. Why has this not been done?

Answer: The feather impressions would be destroyed in the preparation

A guardian of one of the specimens suggested that the further examination should be carried out, but with someone else's specimen!

Source: Author succubus

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.